Dasher means for frozen confections producing apparatus



Aug. l2, 1958 E. THoMPsoN, JR

DASHER MEANS FOR FROZEN CONFCTIONS PRODUCING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Original Filed Aug. 31, 1951 l I I I I l I l I I I I l I I I I I I I I l.unnII.

i .L I

INVENTOR. infer Zire/mvo/vw BY zwmawmbf;

l 4,...IL

ATTORNEYS.'

Aug. 12, 1958 5. THOMPSON, JR v2,847,197 I MEANS FOR FROZEN CONFECTIONSPRODUCING APPARATUS INVENTOR:

[I l Fuser /TmMAson/.k' f* v BY A TTORNE YS Aug. 12, 1958 E. THOMPSON,JR

DASHER MEANS FOR FROZEN CONFECTIONS PRODUCING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3Original Filed Aug. 3l, 1951 INVENTOR.' 5x54 K wwwa/WL ny amwfmffATTORNEY5.'

Aug. 12, 1958 E. THOMPSON, JR

DASHER MEANS FQR FROZEN CONFECTIONS PRODUCING APPARATUS v original FiledAug. :51, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 m www VMM A TTOR NE Y5 United StatesPatent() DASHER MEANS FOR FROZEN CONFE'CTIONS PRODUCING APPARATUS EmeryThompson, Jr., New Rochelle, N. Y., assignor to Emery Thompson Machine &Supply Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Originalapplication August 31, 1951, Serial No. 244,630,

now Patent No. 2,740,264, dated April 3, 1956. Divided and thisapplication July 11, 1955, Serial No. '522,489

14 Claims. (Cl. 259-109) The present invention relates to apparatus formaking and serving frozen confection products and, more particularly, todasher means thereof, such devices, though capable of producing avariety of types of frozen products, being most familiar to the publicin the production and sale of the frozen confection called frozencustard, and the present application is a division of my applicationSerial No. 244,630, filed August 3l, 1951, now Patent 2,740,264, datedApril 3, 1956.

A general object of the present invention is to provide such apparatusand dasher means thereof which are easily and simply made in aneconomical and rapid manner in mass production, the parts being readilyassembled With minimum manipulation, the devices efliciently beingoperable in a manner producing a high quality product while avoidingoperational shut-down which may be otherwise caused by build-up offrosted stock on freezer chamber walls.

A more specic object of the present invention is to provide simplefreezer structure featuring simple but effective dasher means which maybe operated in the freezer chamber in a manner for eicient attainment ofa desired degree of overrun in the plastic product and which will feedthe latter through a gated delivery opening.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of simple butsturdy and effectively operable dasher structure featuring frostscraping means and which is easily and economically made and readilyserviced and cleaned.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide structuralembodiments of the apparatus and parts thereof which may be readilyconstructed and permit efficient use and operation.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts, which will beexemplified inthe constructions hereinafter set forth, and the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims` For a fullerunderstanding of the nature and objects of the invention, referenceshould be had to the following detailed description taken inconnectionrwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View, with parts broken away and insection, and others diagrammatically shown, of an embodiment ofapparatus of the present invention for producing frozen confections;

Fig. 2 is a front end elevational View of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, to an enlarged scale, with parts broken awayand in section, taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is an axial section, to an enlarged scale, with 2,847,197Patented Aug. 12, 1958 ICC Fig. 5 is a detailed transverse section takensubstantially on line 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view, with parts broken away and insection, of a portion of the dasher structure and the driving meanstherefor at the inlet end which are shown in Figs. 4 and 5;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 of parts of the other end of thedasher structure shown in Figs. 4 and 5;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view to a reduced scale of the feed part ofthe dasher structure shown in Figs. 4 to 7, incl.;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail of dasher structure shown in Figs. 4 to 8,incl.;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the feed part of a modified form of dasherstructure;I

Fig. 11 is an enlarged perspective detail of the receiving end of thedasher structure embodiment shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 12-12 of Fig. l1and showing in dotted lines the cylinder in which it is to be rotatedand a Whipping or mixing bar which may be employed therewith;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged perspective side view o'f one of the agitatingand advancing blades of the dasher structure embodiment shown in Figs.10, l1 and 12; and

Fig. 14 is a perspective exploded detail, with parts in section, of thedischarge end of the dasher structure shown in Figs. l0 to 13, incl.,showing means for support thereof.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals identify similar partsthroughout, it will be seen that a preferred embodiment of the apparatusfor producing frozen confections of the present invention may comprise asupporting base structure 20 encased by a casing 21 for suitably housingvarious parts and having a platform top 22 on which other parts aremounted. Upon the platform top 22 is suitably mounted in a lateral andpreferably substantially horizontal position a freezer 23, such as bymeans of tie bolts 24-24, a temporary storage tank 25, such as by meansof suitable bracket feet 26, 26, and a hood 27 suitably housing dasherdriving means, such as a driven pulley and driving belt structureindicated in dotted lines at 28 in Fig. 1.

The freezer unit 23 comprises a lateral or substantially horizontal,elongated cylinder 29, suitably closed at its inlet end by head 30 andat its outlet by head 31. A mid-section of the cylinder 29 is surroundedby a refrigerant jacket 32 suitably covered by insulating means 33, suchas a plurality of adjacent, longitudinally-extending cork strips whichcooperate with underlying bands of insulation 34 beyond the ends of thejacket 32 and engaged directly about the exposed ends of the cylinder 29protruding from opposite ends of the jacket, with such bands ofinsulation also preferably formed of longitudinally-extending corkstrips, as will be seen from Figs. 3 and 4. A housing 35 covers thecentral section of the jacketed and insulated cylinder 29 andcylindrical covers 36, 36 cooperate with end plates 37, 37 to cover theinsulation about the protruding ends of the cylinder.

Within the base casing 21 is suitably mounted the usual dasher-operatingmechanism and refrigerant circulatory system. Such mechanism maycomprise an electrical motor 38 supported on hanger structure 39 andsuitably belted, such as at 40, to the pulley driving structure inhousing 27, as shown in dotted linesin Fig. 1. The refrigerantcirculatory system may comprise a compressor 41 connected by an outletconduit diagrammatically shown at 42 through condenser coil 43 to theus'ual reservoir 44. From the reservoir 44, a supply conduit 45 forcompressed refrigerant preferably feeds through a dehydrating dryer 46to jacket inlet or supply duct 47, through a solenoid valve 48 and anexpansion valve 49 connected in series. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4,supply duct 47' communicates at the bottom with heat exchanger space 50inside jacket 32 within the housing 35. A return line duct 51communicates with space 50 at the top, also within the jacket 35, toextend down through a hole in platform top 22 into the base housing 21for return connection to compressor 41, as seen in Figs. l and 4. Thecompressor 41, of course, includes suitable motive means, such as aself-contained electrical motor (not shown).

The means for supplying fluid or liquid stock to cylindrical freezingchamber 53 provided by the interior of the cylinder 29 preferablycomprises an elevated storage supply tank 54 mounted for gravity feedabove the freezer unit 23 and preferably upon the casing 35 thereof byymeans of leg brackets 55, 55, as shown in Figs. l and 2. An eductionpipe 56 connects a low point of the bottom of the interior ofl the tank54 to the bottom of temporary storage tank 25 so as to feed uid stock tothe latter by force of gravity. The outlet opening of the educton pipe.56 is circumscribed by a valve seat 57 on which seats a oat-operatedlift valve 58, suitably connected by linkage and lever means 59 to afloat 60 located within tank 25 to control the supply thereto of liquidstock and while amounts of the latter are with-v drawn to maintainautomatically therein the quantity of stock at a uniform level, such asthat indicated at 61 in Fig. 3. Fluid stock is. fed from temporarystorage tank 25. to the inlet end of the cylinder 29., which is closedby head 30, by a suitable duct in any suitable manner at a pointpreferably below the level 61 dictated by float 60. Preferably, for thispurpose, a pipe 62 extends laterally to connect the interior of tank 25.to an inlet opening 6,3 in the sideA of the inlet end of the cylinder2.9, and preferably the top of that inlet opening and the top of thepassage provided by the interior of pipe 62 are located substantially atthe level 61 which in turn is preferably in the vicinity of the axis ofthe cylinder, as indicated in Fig. 3. As a result, an appreciable gasyhead space 64 is provided above the level 61 of the top of the fluidstock as it is supplied to the chamber 53 through the inlet opening 63.

Gaseous medium, such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, etc., butpreferably air, is supplied directly to the gas` head space 64 in thecylinder chamber 53 at the inlet end. For this purpose, a stand pipe 65is preferably provided to communicate the atmosphere with a gas inletopening 66 in the'top of the inlet end of the cylinder 29, as shown inFigs. 1, 3 and 4. This provides the necessary gas requirements forproducing the desired aerated condition known as` overrun, fullydiscussed in my Patent No. 2,132,364 of October 4, 1938. When pipe 65 isopen to atmosphere for supply of air to attain the desired degree ofoverrun, it may serve as a simple means whereby fruit or otheringredients may be added in a ready manner by the operator.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the outlet end of the freezer unit 23 isprovided with a suitably gated discharge passage which may comprise adepending tube 67 communicating with the chamber 53 by way of dischargeopening 68 and closed at its bottom end by pivoted gate 69 to be swunglaterally by a manual handle 70. Manual handle 70 is linked through abell crank lever 71 to a lift rod 72 pivotally connected to a foot pedal73, with the rod spring-biased downwardly by suitable spring means 74anchored to the rod in any suitable manner, such as by fixture 75.Fixture 75 may, if desired, be employed to operate a circuit closingswitch for energizing the freezer motor, as more fully explainedhereinafter in connection with Fig. l5. Thus, either by depressing footlever 73, or by swinging hand lever 70 to one side, gate 69 may becaused to uncover the outlet of discharge tube 67 for delivery of frozenconfection in a plastic condition for consumer consumption.

Although a variety of types of dasher constructions may be used in suchfreezer apparatus, simplified economically constructed unique dasherstructure of my invention lis preferred. Such dasher structure comprisesagitating and whipping rotary mechanism of open screw constructionhaving through passages from end to end in order to beat into thesupplied stock the necessary amount of gas to attain the desired degreeof overrun and, while it is being beaten and frozen to a plastic aeratedproduct, to advance or feed it to the gated outlet for delivery tocustomers.

An embodiment of such dasher construction is shown in Figs. 3 to 9 incl.As therein indicated, such dasher construction may comprise a rotarydriving head 76 having a stepped cylindrical core element 77 extendingcoaxially from a circular flange 78 provided with a pair ofdiametrically-arranged driving notches 79, 79. The driving head 76preferably is provided as an integral part of the driving shaft 80suitably rotatably supported in a journal 81 extending axially throughclosing head 30, with the shaft adapted to be driven by the pulleyconstruction 28. The smaller stepped portion of core element 77preferably constitutes an axial extension 82 to be slidably androtatably received in a collar 83 fixed on one end of a whipping bar 84.Preferably, the whipping bar 84 is rectangular in section and providedas a flat strip, although a variety of other shapes might be used. Theother closing head 31 carries a fixed, inwardlyextending stub shaft 85having a transverse slot 86 therein to receive and hold the other end ofmixing or whipping bar 84. A rotatable sleeve 87 is slidably mounted onstub shaft 85 and has an enlarged head 88 bearing against a thrustwasher 89. Thus, the mixing or whipping bar 84 will be held stationaryby the stub shaft 85 while sleeve 87 may rotate on the latter.

The agitating and advancing or feeding structure of the dasherconstruction may comprise a spiralled rod 90 having a complete turn 91at one end to be slidably received over the larger portion of core 77carried by driving head 76. Turn 91 carries diametrically-arranged,axially-extending driving lugs 92, 92 to be received in driving headnotches 79, 79. The turns of the spiralled rod 90 are preferably `of lanoutside diameter slightly less than the internal diameter -of chamber 53so as to be freely rotatable therein while assuringl obtainment ofmaximum thrust. The other end of the spiralled rod 90 has a `turn 93therein to receive the reduced portion of the rotatable sleeve 87 forsupport thereby. The intermediate successive turns of spiral-led rod 90intervening the end turns 91 and 93, or portions of these successiveturns, constitute a plurality of successive plastic materialadvancingmeans.

In order to scrape the frosted material Ias it is formed on the insideface of chamber 53 therefrom and beat it back into the body of stockand/ or forming plastic material, the spiralled rod 90 is provided witha plurality of centrifugally-cockable, longitudinally-extending scraperblades 94-94 so :arranged that their sharp leading edges overlaplongitudinally to scrape clean the entire inner surface of the freezingchamber opposed to the dasher construction. For support `of each scraperblade 94, successive turns lof the spiralled rod 90, i. e., thesuccessive plastic material-advancing means defined thereby, areprovided with opposed pairs `of pivot pins 95, 95. Preferably eachscraper blade 94 is of a shape similar to that shown in Figs. 4, 5 and9, having a sharp leading edge 96, an oblique front edge 97, and anoblique rear edge 98 arranged substantially parallel to the front edge.Each scraper blade 94 is provided with a pair of longitudinally-spacedapertured base ears 99 and 100 respectively to receive the front `andrear pivot pins of each pair 95, 95. Fig. 9 illustrates the simplicityof mounting such a scraper blade on an opposed pair of pivot pins 95,wherein it is shown that with the scraper blade swung radially out awayfrom the spiralled rod 90, the front apertured ear 99 may be positioned`over the preferably longer front pivot pin 95 and pushed forward in thedirection of the arrow to the dot-dash position 147 so that the rearapertured ear 100 maybe slipped over the end of the preferably shorterrear pivot pin. The scraper blade .is then slid back to the full lineposition shown in Fig. 9 and permitted to drop down so that its obliquefront edge 97 rests in the vicinity of or abuts against an adjacentportion of the turn iof the spiralled rod 90 supporting it, as indicatedin Fig. 4. Thus, as the dasher construction is rotated to feed theplastic material forward through the cylinder chamber 53 by screwaction, the action of those scraper blades 94-94 :and drag of materialthereon is prevented from -dislodging or disrnounting the scraperblades, while permitting their ready removal for conditioning andsharpening. Limited longitudinal motion `of each scraper blade 94 ineither direction is possible when the dasher frame and blades aredisposed in 4and rotated in the whipping chamber 53, but it is limitedto an extent preventing disengagement of ears 99 and V100 from pivotpins 95, 95.

A further simplified form of the dasher construction which may bepreferred is illustrated in Figs. 10 to 14 incl., and, as therein shown,may comprise a pair of parallel, longitudinally-extending,laterally-spaced rods 101, 101 having their ends :at the inlet end ofthe apparatus iiatted at 102, 102 as shown in Fig. 11, to be suitablyreceived and iitted in driving notches 79, 79. The opposite ends 103,103 of the rods 101, 101 `are adapted slidably `to be received indiametrically-opposed holes 104, 104 in the face of flange 188 of amodified form of rotatable sleeve 87 to be mounted fon stub shaft 85.The pair Iof parallel rods 101, 101 carry at spaced intervals two setsof like blades 105-105, and 105-105, with those in one set 105-105arranged yobliquely forward with respect to transverse planes, andalternate ones of the other set 105-105 arranged obliquely back awayfrom such transverse planes, as most clearly seen in Fig. l0. The blades105- 105 of one set are located on one side of the pair `of rods 101,101, Aand those of the other set 105- 105 on the opposite side, as willbe seen from Figs. 11 and 12, so that together they form a screwstructure adapted when rotated to advance plastic material from one end`to the other.

Each blade 105 or 105 has an router edge 106, substantially arcuate inshape and extending about 180, to be rotated closely adjacent to theinner cylindrical surface yof thechamber 53, as shown in Fig. 12.Preferably the central portion at 107 Vof each blade 105 or 105' is cutaway, as indicated in Figs. l1, l2 and 13, to provide clearance for awhipping or mixing member, such as fixed -bar 84. Thus each blade 105 or105 may be generally C-shaped in outline, with the tips thereofapertured at 108, 108, as indicated in Fig. 13, slidably to receiveV therods 101, 101, on which the blades may be thereafter xed in properpositions in any suitable manner, such as by welding, although `othermeans carried thereby may be employed properly to space them. It will beunderstood, however, that the central portions of each blade 106 neednot be cut :away at 107 if the use of a mixing'or whipping bar is notdesired, or each blade may be somewhat fan-shaped `and have a medialaperture in the area 107 to receive :such la mixing or whipping bar.

Successive blades of each set obliqued in the same direction (105, 105or 105', 105') carry a pair of the opposed pivot pins I(95, 95 or 95',95') so that one of the scraper blades 94, or a scraper blade ofmodified construction, may be mounted thereon in :a manner similar tothat previously described. Thus, the front end of a scraper blademounted upon opposed pivot pins 95, 95, on a pair of forwardly-obliquedblades 105, 105 on one side of the rods 101, 101, will have its frontend longitu-` dinally overlapped by the rear end of the next succeedingscraper blade pivotally mounted on the opposed pair of pivot pins 95',95 of a pair yof blades 105', 105' obliqued in the opposite direction tothe rear and with the rear blade of that pair intervening the two bladesof the former pair. Accordingly, the entire cylindrical inner surface ofthe chamber 53 opposite the dasher construction illustrated in Figs. 10to 14 incl., will be scraped effectively by such blades in rotation ofthe dasher construction.

In operation of the freezer apparatus shown in Figs. l to 9 incl.,liquid confection stock contained in the elevated storage supply tank 54will be permitted to ow through duct 56 into temporary storage tank 55with valve 58 lifted by virtue of the low position of oat 60. As float60 rises with increase in the quantity of stock collected in tank 25,valve 58 will finally close the orifice in seat 57 with the surface ofthe liquid substantially at the level 61. Liquid stock will flow throughconduit 62 and inlet opening 63 into the inlet end of freezer chamber53, and with the body of the stock therein superposed by a head of airin space 64 in direct communication with the atmosphere through gasinlet opening 66 and gas supply stand pipe 65.

The rotary dasher structure in the freezer chamber 53 will then berotated in a counter-clockwise direction as the dasher structure isviewed from the front or discharge end of the freezer, as indicated bythe arrow 141 in Fig. 8 and arrow 142 in Fig. 5. The dasher structure isso rotated by means of shaft 80, drive pulleys 28 and 40 beltedtogether, and freezer motor 38 which is suitably energized. Thecompressor motor is energized suitably to operate compressor 41 so thatpressure of refrigerant is built up in reservoir 44 to be supplied bysupply conduit 45 through the open solenoid valve 48 and the openexpansion valve 49, and thence through duct 47 to the heat transferspace 50 about the freezing chamber 53. With heat being withdrawn fromthe iiuid stock in the freezer as it is beaten and whipped, frostedamounts thereof tend to build up on the inner wall of the freezercylinder 29. Rotation of the dasher structure causes the scraper blades94-94 carried thereby to be swung outwardly or cocked by centrifugalaction so that their sharp noses or leading edges 96-*96 will scrape thefrost from the wall of freezing chamber 53 to mix it vback into the bodyof supplied material and to be churned up therein by cooperative actionof the rotating spiral, the scraper blades, and the effect of the fixedat mixing bar 84. As a result, partial solidiication of the confectionstock will cause it to become of plastic consistency and the resultantplastic body to be driven forward by the rotating dasher structure tothe discharge outlet 68.

The Ydot-dash line at 143 in Fig. 4 vindicates the approximate surfaceshape of the supplied stock and partially frozen confection material asit is being frozen and agitated, and, as therein indicated, there is asubstantial gas head space 64 thereabove at the inlet end to permitsupplied gas or air to be whipped or beaten into the supplied stock asit is agitated in the freezer and chilled to freezing with attainment ofthe desired degree of overrun. The removal of the frost from the innersurface of the freezing chamber 53 by the series of scraper blades 94-94is assured by virtue of the fact that longitudinally the rear and frontends of successive blades overlap. This will be evident from aninspection of Fig. 4 wherein appreciable overlap is indicated at 144.

The frozen confection in a plastic condition having the desired degreeof overrun will be withdrawn at will through the discharge outlet 68 anddischarge duct 67 by opening the gate 69 with lateral swing, either byswinging the hand lever 70 to one side or depressing the foot pedal 73.Of course, at such times the freezer motor 38 must be operating thedasher structure in order to cause the latter to feed the plasticmaterial forward by screw action. If the movable contact of switch S1 bemoved over to a manual position it will connect the freezer motor 38 toan electrical supply line. Such energization of the freezer motor 38 maybe effected automatically with opening of the discharge gate 69 byproviding an automatically-operated circuit closing switch in shunt ofthe manual setting of switch S1. Such a circuit closing switch can be ofa type wherein a biasing spring tends to maintain it open with operatingmeans opposing the force of the biasing spring to close it. Theoperating means may be connected in any suitable manner to any portionof the linkage connected between the manual lever 70, and the foot pedal73, and for this purpose may, for example, be connected to the biasingspring anchorage 75 fixed on the rod 72.

The modified form of dasher structure shown in Figs. 10 to 14 incl. noto-nly effectively accomplishes all of the operational functioning of theembodiment shown in Figs. 4 to 9 incl., but in addition, may be found tobe much more readily constructed and manufactured in mass production. Aswill be noted from the drawings, that second embodiment of the dasherstructure is extremely simple and the parts thereof are readily andeasily assembled to assure economy in production. Further, thatstructure permits ready mounting in the freezer, allows efficientagitating and screw advancing operations thereof, and also permits easy,quick and simple cleaning and servicing. Obviously, the scraper bladessimilar to 94 which will be employed with the dasher structure shown inFigs. l() to 14 incl., are mounted and demounted in a similar simplemanner. For example, as shown in Fig. 9 in order to remove the scraperblade 94, one need merely to rotate it so that it extends upwardly orradial of the dasher structure proper, and move it in the forwarddirection indicated by the arrow 146 to the dot-dash position 147, so asto free the rear apertured ear 100 from the rear pivoting pin 95 topermit the front apertured ear 99 to be slid back off of front pivot pin95. Such easy removal permits sharpening of the scraper blade and anytruing up or other servicing thereof that may be necessary.

Proper setting of the two control switches S1 and S2, indicated o'n thefront of the apparatus in Fig. 2, by manipulation to either manualoperation or automatic operation positions, will dictate and controloperation of the freezing apparatus. For example, closure of switch S1to the manual position by swinging its control over to one side will, aspreviously explained, connect the freezer motor 38 to an electricalsupply line and energize it. Freezer motor 38, of course, rotates thedasher structure in the freezer cylinder to prepare frozen confectionhaving the desired overrun, and to drive it forward to the outlet end ofthe freezer cylinder to be discharged through the gated dischargeopening at the will of the operator to supply a customer demand. Thesolenoid valve 48 which primarily controls circulation of therefrigerant in the refrigerating duct system cannot be turned on or,that is, opened by energizaton of its coil unless the freezer motor isrunning when switch S2 has its movable contact also moved over forcircuit closing at the manual position. Thus, the freezer motor may beoperated alone without circulation of refrigerant either by manualsetting of switch S1 or closure of the shunt switch operable by the gatelinkage, and this, of course, permits delivery from the freezer offrozen plastic confection product by motor drive of the dasherstructure, while making it necessary that the dasher structure berotated by the freezer motor in order to obtain circulation ofrefrigerant when switch S2 is also at manual setting. This precaution,of course, assures that there can be no such undue build-up ofsolidified frozen material on the inner walls of freezing chamber 53 aswould prevent proper operation of the device, either by slowing ortotally preventing rotation of the agitating and feeding dasherstructure.

Under such manual setting operation, and with the a thermostat switch(indicated at 114 in Fig. l) open, a first control bulb embedded ininsulation 140 solely controls the temperature-within the freezer sinceexpansion valve 49 is controlled by that control bulb in response toreturn duct temperature, and circulation of refrigerant as dictated bythe opening of the expansion valve 49. Response to control of thiscontrol bulb presumes that the solenoid valve at 48 is open byenergization of its coil with the control switch S2 on manual settingand with the freezer motor operating with control switch S1 also onmanual setting point.

On automatic setting with the second control switch S2 manipulated tothe automatic position so that its movable Contact closes a controlcircuit, the coil of the solenoid valve 48 will be connected across thesupply line through thermostat switch 114. This thermostat switch ismanipulated by and under the control of a second control bulb 138embedded in insulation 140.

On automatic setting, operation of the thermostat switch 114 by itscontrol bulb, in response to the temperature in the field of temperatureinfluence of a portion of return conduit 51, dictates the operation ofthe flow of refrigerant through the refrigerant circulatory system tochill the walls of the freezing chamber and develop frost thereon. Withthe thermostat switch 114 closed, the freezer motor is operated torotate the dasher structure in the freezer chamber so as to scrape thefrost from the chamber walls, beat and whip it back into the body ofsupplied stock to form a frozen plastic product, also to beat into thesupplied stock sucient quantity of gas or air to attain the desiredoverrun, and also to feed the finished plastic product forward to theoutlet end and through the gated outlet when opened for supply ofcustomer demands. Thus, with the control switches S1 and S2 manipulatedto automatic settings, the thermostat switch 114 and its control bulbmay be considered to be the master control device of the control system.

Also, though not entirely necessary, it is desirable to use the secondcontrol bulb for dictating the setting of the expansion valve 49, sothat there will be temperature control of the ow of refrigerant throughthe refrigerant circulatory system at all times. As explained, whenevercontrol switch S2 is on manual setting, solenoid valve 48 is opened uponoperation of the freezer motor 38. But, of course, rotation of thedasher structure by the freezer motor 38 is frequently desired whenthere is no demand for heat transfer from the confection material in thefreezer, such as at times of developing overrun and delivering finishedproduct from the freezer. Under such `conditions when there is norefrigerant ow control by the second control bulb, the first controlbulb performs that function. On automatic setting of control switch S2,of course, the solenoid valve 48 is connected across the supply lineonly through closure of the thermostat switch 114 operated by itscontrol, which, in turn, responds to the temperature of the field ofinfluence of the return conduit temperature. Thus, the use of the twocontrol bulbs embedded in the return conduit insulation 140 assures thatcirculation of refrigerant in its circulatory system is permitted onlywhen the temperature of the field of temperature influence of the returnconduit becomes higher than a predetermined maximum so as demand fromone or more of the control bulbs operation `of equipment which willpermit such flow. Accordingly, no combination of manipulations of thetwo control switches S1 and S2 is possible by an unskilled operatorwhich will cause improper operation and possible development ofsufficiently solid frozen material in the freezer as to retard unduly orprevent rotation of the dasher structure.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those madeapparent from the preceding description are eiciently attained and,since certain changes may be made in the above construction anddifferent embodiments of the invention could be made without departingfrom the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in theabove description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims 9 4 are intendedtocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus for producing frozen confections, dasher means for afreezing cylinder of certain internal diameter comprising an elongated,axially-hollow, rotatable structure open from end to end and having aplurality of obliquely arranged, successive, plastic material-advancingmeans located there'along with outer portions thereof adapted to definein rotation circular paths of a diameter vslightly less than thecylinder internal diameter, a plurality of opposed and axially alignedpairs of bearing means successively-arranged longitudinally along andabout said structure and carried by said successive material-'advancingmeans, and a plurality of centrifugallycockable, longitudinally-lappingscrapers each rotatably supported substantially parallel to the axis ofsaid structure by one of said pairs of bearing means.

2. The dasher means as deiined in claim 1 characterized by the provisionof said elongated rotatable structure as a spiralled rod the diameter ofsuccessive Iturns of which is slightly less than the cylinder internaldiameter forming an axially-hollow screw device, opposed portions ofsuccessive turns thereof carrying said opposed pairs ofscraper-supporting bearing means.

3. The dasher means as deiined in claim 2 characterized by a relativelyfixed Whipping bar extending axially of said spiralled rod with thelatter rotatable thereabout.

4. The dasher means 'as defined in claim 1 characterized by theprovision of said elongated rotatable structure as a plurality ofobliquely-arranged, axially-spaced blades xedly mounted on rotatable,longitudinally-extending means to advance plastic material from one endto the other, opposed outer portions of successively alternate bladescarrying said opposed pairs of scraper-supporting bearing means.

5. The dasher means as defined in claim 4 characterized by said bladeshaving outer arcuate edges extending through about 180 with successiveblades alternately arranged on opposite sides of said rotatable mountingmeans.

6. The dasher means as deiined in claim 5 characterized by said bladesbeing C-shaped with the tip portions thereof mounted on laterally-spacedrods extending substantially parallel to each other and the axis of saidstructure and with said rods comprising said rotatable mounting means.

7. The dasher means as deiined in claim 1 characterized by the provisionof said elongated rotatable structure as a pair oflongitudinally-extending, laterally-spaced rods extending substantiallyparallel to the axis of said structure, a plurality of half blades eachhaving its outer edge extending arcuately through about 180 with itscentral portion cut away, said blades being alternately arranged onopposite sides of and carried by said pair of rods, and an opposed pairof scraper-supporting and pivoting means carried by opposed portions ofeach pair of alternate blades at opposed points spaced at appreciableradial angles from medial portions of said blades so that each bladeinward of end blades has at least one such means on one side thereofwith ends of successive scrapers longitudinally overlapping.

8. The dasher means as defined in claim 7 characterized by the provisionof a fixed, iiat whipping bar extending axially of said structure andabout which said rods and blades are rotatable.

9. The dasher means as deiined in claim 8 characterized by the provisionof support and driving means for said structure comprising a lxed studshaft at one end to which one end of said iiat whipping bar isconnected, a rotatable journal on said stud shaft carrying one end ofeach of said rods, driven rotatable means carrying the other ends 1`0 ofsaid rods, and rotatable means on said driven means carrying the otherend of said xed whipping bar.

10. In apparatus for producing frozen confections, dasher means for afreezing cylinder of certain internal diameter comprising, incombination; a driven rotatable stud shaft; an opposed axially-spacedfixed stud shaft; a at whipping bar fixed at one end to said iixed studshaft; means rotatably supported on said driven stud shaft carrying theother end of said fixed whipping bar; a pair of laterally-spaced,longitudinally-extending rods each having an end eceentrically mountedon said driven stud shaft to be carried around therewith; journal meansmounted on said fixed stud shaft eccentrically supporting the other endsof said rods; a plurality of C-shaped, longitudinallyspaced bladeshaving their tips mounted on said rods with alternate blades arranged onthe same side of said rods substantially at the same oblique angles totransverse planes with the intervening blades arranged on the oppositesides of said rods and obliqued in the opposite direction; a pair ofpivoting pins mounted in opposed fashion on advance portions ofalternate blades obliqued in the same direction; and a plurality ofcentrifugally-cockable, elongated scrapers pivotally mounted betweeneach pair of opposed pivoting pins so that the ends of said scraperslongitudinally overlap.

11. Dasher means comprising a rotatable, axially-hollow, elongatedstructure having successively-arranged, obliquely-disposed, plasticmaterial-advancing screw means with successive radially-outer portionsthereof spaced longitudinally of said structure and providing scraperabutment means; a pair of opposed, longitudinally-extending pivot pinsmounted on each successive pair of said screw means with one pinextending forward from the front of the trailing screw means and theother pin extending backward from the rear of the leading screw means,at least some of said pairs of opposed pins being located at differentradial positions labout said structure; and a plurality oflongitudinally-extending, centrifugally-cockable, longitudinally-lappingscraper blades each having longitudinally-extending apertured base meanspivotally mounted on said pins, the outside length of said base meansbeing greater than the distance between opposed ends of said pins butless than the distance between the root of one pin and thel tip of theother to permit ready mounting and dismounting with longitudinal slidingwhen said blade is swung out to a substantially radial position, andmeans on at least one end of each of said scraper blades to rest againstsaid abutment means with Ithe blade swung down toward a substantiallytangential position and moved lengthwise to an intermediate position ofsimultaneous `engagement of said opposed pins.

12. The dasher means as deiined in claim 1 characo terized by arelatively fixed whipping bar extending axially of said hollow rotatablestructure with the latter rotatable thereabout.

13. The dasher means as deiined in claim 12 characterized by saidwhipping bar being of relatively thin iiat stock of appreciable widthand extending axially through said hollow rotatable structure.

14. Dasher means comprising a rotatable, axially-hollow, elongatedstructure in the form of a spiralled rod with at least portions ofsuccessive turns thereof providing successively-arranged,obliquely-disposed, plastic material-advancing screw means withsuccessive radiallyouter portions thereof in any axial plane spacedlongitudinally of said structure and providing scraper abutment means; aplurality of pairs of longitudinally-aligned andlongitudinally-extending pivot pins with those of each pair being spacedan appreciable distance longitudinally and mounted on portions of a pairof said successive screw means turns and at least some of said pairs ofopposed pins being located at diiferent radial positions about saidspiral rod structure; a plurality of longitudinally-extending,centrifugally-cockable, longitudinally-lapping scraper blades eachhaving apertured longitudinally-spaced por- 2,847,197 y 11 Y1.2 vtionsreceivable of and pivotally mounted on and bethe blade swnng down towarda rsubsitgintilally tangential tween one of said pairs of opposed pins,the longitudinal position about its pair of opposed supporting pins.distance between the outer sides of said portions being greater than thedistance between opposedl ends of said References Cited in tphle 0fhiSDateDt pair of pins but less than the distance between the root 5UNITED STATES FATNTS of one pin land the tip of the other to permitready mounty ing and dismounting with longitudinal sliding when saidircsln-gl NyZP blade 1s swung out vto a substantially longltudmal posi-2,506,101 Oltz May 2, 1950 tion; and means on atleast one end of each ofsaid scraper blades to rest against the adjacent abutment means with 102,569235- Guisti et al' Sept 25. 1951

